In the early 1900s, wealthy Americans heard about the Atlantic salmon that spawn in the Margaree. The Americans started to visit the Margaree for fishing trips. In 1927, someone caught a salmon that weighed over 52 pounds (23.8 kilograms)! Word spread quickly and soon the Margaree became a favourite vacation spot for American anglers.

Today, the Margaree is still the most popular salmon river in Nova Scotia. The season runs from about June 1 to the middle of October. The river has 54 salmon pools with names like Black Angus, Thornbush and Big McDaniel. The Margaree Salmon Museum in North East Margaree has displays that show the life cycle of a salmon and the history of salmon angling on the river.

A Heritage River

In 1998, the federal and Nova Scotia governments made the Margaree River a Canadian Heritage River. There are only two Canadian Heritage Rivers in Nova Scotia. People who care about the river help government plan how to take care of it while letting people use and enjoy it. People who live near the river, people who own land there, Mi’kmaw groups, and other people, make plans to protect the river from pollution and other things that could damage it. They also plan ways for people to enjoy the river and to teach people about the river. In the long run, teaching people to appreciate the river is the best way to protect it.